Black Prince

Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Edward III. Froissart says he
was “styled black by terror of his arms” (c. 169). Strutt confirms this saying: “for his martial deeds
surnamed Black the Prince” (Antiquities ). Meyrick says there is
not the slightest proof that Edward, Prince of Wales. ever wore black
armour (vol. ii.); indeed, we have much indirect proof against the
supposition. Thus Shaw (vol. i. plate 31) gives a facsimile from a
picture on the wall of St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster, in which the
prince is clad in gilt armour. Stothard says “the effigy is of
copper gilt.” In the British Museum is an illumination of Edward III.
granting to his son the duchy of Aquitaine, in which both figures are
represented in silver armour with gilt joints. The first mention of the
term “Black Prince” occurs in a parliamentary paper of the second year
of Richard II.; so that Shakespeare has good reason for the use of the
word in his tragedy of that king:

“Brave Gaunt, thy father and myself Rescued the Black Prince, that
young Mars of men, From forth the ranks of many thousand French.”